Brake-operating mechanism



May 1, 1928.

G. WALKER V BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM Original Filed April 12. 1926[NVENTOR G116 ll aller;

ATTORN EYS Patented May 1, 1928'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUS WALKER, OF HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA,

BRAKE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Original application filed. April 12, 1926,

An object of the invention is the proyision of a brake operatingmechanlsinwhlch 1 s adapted to effect a quick and positive applicationof a braking action on each of the front wheels of an automobile whichis' equipped with the invention, even though considerable wear shallhave taken place between relatively movable brake members of the devicefor either or both of the front wheels of the automobile.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a brake operatingmechanism of ciated with a brake mechanism embodying the invention andwith which the automobile is equipped. Figure 2 is a fragmentaryvertical sect1on taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, the numeral 1 generallydesignates the frame of an automobile and 2 is the front axle on whichthe front end portion of the frame is supported in any suitable knownmanner. The front axle 2 carries the usual pivoted s indles on which thefront or steermg whee s 4 are mounted. In carrying out the invention,the end portions of the front axle 2 are provided at their extremitiesand adjacent to the inner sides of the wheels 4 with upstandingsupporting arms 5-wh1ch Serial No. 101,489. Divided and this applicationfiled Aumt 90, 1926. Serial No. 130,485.

are located above the levels of the axes of the adjacent s indles and awhich may be formed integra 1y with the axle 2 or may be formedseparately from the front axle and secured thereto in any suitable knownmanner. The front axle' 2 also is provided inwardly of the upstandingsupporting arms 5 with other upstanding supporting arms 6 which also maybe formed integrally with the axle 2. By referring to Figure 1, it

will be seen that the supporting arms 6 are located at the outer sidesof the side members of the frame 1 of the automobile.

A. brake drum 7 is provided for each of the wheels 4. Each brake drum issecured firmly to the associated wheel 4 at the inner side of the latterby suitable fastening devices as is usual whereby each brake drum willbe supported in concentric relation with the associated wheel 4.

In the brake drum 7 isdisposed an expanding brake mechanism generallyindicated at 8 which preferably has the detailed construction fullyillustrated and described in my aforesaid co-pending application, Serial#101,489, but which, so far as the present invention is concerned, maybe of any suitable known construction. The brake mechanism 8 is adaptedto be expanded b means of a rock shaft 27 Each rock sha t 27 isjournaled in aligned openings in the supporting arms 5 and 6 on theassociated end portion of the axle 2.

The rock shafts 27 on the opposite end portions of the axle 2 carryforwardly and downwardly inclined and similarly disposed rocker arms 31.Similar motion transmitting rods 32 are provided atopposite sides of theframe of the automobile and have inwardly curved forward end portionspivotally attached to the rocker arms 31. Each of the rods 32' maycomprise sections connected adjustably by a turnbuckle 33 so that thelength of the rod 32 can be varied within limits as desired. Therearward endportions of the rods 32 are turned inward and are .pivotallyattached to the end portions of forwardly and downwardly inclined rockerarms 34: on axially aligned transverse rock shafts 35 and 36,respectively. The adjacent ends of the rock shafts 35 and 36 terminateshort of each other and the rock shaft 36 is of less length than therock shaft 35, The

rock shaft 36 is journaled in a bearing in the side frame member of theautomobile that is nearest to the operating mechanism of the automobilewhile the shaft 35 is journaled in a bearing in the otherside member ofthe automobile frame. The inner end portions of the shafts 35 and 36carry upwardly and rearwardly inclined rocker arms 37. The end portionsof the arms 36 are straddled by horizontally spaced forks 38 at theforward ends of links 39 and are connected to the forks 38 by horizontalpivot elements 40. The rearward end portions of s the links 39 areformed to produce vertically spaced forks 41 which. straddle the endportions of a fiat compensating bar 42 and are connected to the latterpivotally by vertical pivot elements 43. An operating rod 44 is attachedadjacent to its rearward end by means of a pivot element 45 with themiddle portion of the compensating bar 42 and the forward end portion ofthe rod 44 is turned laterally to produce a horizontal pivot elementwhich is engaged with a horizontal opening in a rearwardly extending ear46 on the middle portion of a brake operating lever 47. The brakeoperating lever 47 normally is inclined forwardly and upwardly and isfulcrumed at its lower end on the shaft 48 on which the lower endportion of the usual clutch lever 49 is mounted. The upper end portionofthe lever 47 is curved to lie in the path of possible movement of thepedal at the upper end of the clutch lever 49 and the lever 47 will be acertaindistance away. This distance is sufficient topermit a fulloperating stroke of the clutch lever without actuation of the brakelever.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood. The operator of the car mayswing the clutch lever 49 forward by foot pressure a distance sufficientto swing the clutch out of gear without actuation of the brake lever 47.However, if it is desired to apply the brakes to the front or steeringwheels, the clutch lever is swung forward further and after contactingwith the upper end of the brake lever 47, the latter also is swungforward, thereby causing motion to be transmitted to the rock shafts 27,which are rocked as required to apply the brakes 8. The compensatingcross bar 42 will swing about the parallel vertical pivots 43 and 45 asrequired to assure firm application of the brakes for both front wheelsof the automobile even though the wear on the cover of the brake ring ofthe brake for one front wheel is greater than the wear on the cover ofthe brake ring for the other front wheel.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms otherthan those which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and Itherefore consider as my own all such modifications and adaptationsthereof as fairly fall within the scope of the ap pended claims.

I claim 1. A brake mechanism for the front wheels of an automobilecomprising brakes applied to said brake drum, a common actuatingmechanism for said brakes, said actuating mechanism including a brakelever adapted to be actuated by the usual clutch lever of the automobileafter said clutch le ver has been swung beyond the limit of its normaloperating stroke.

2. A brake operating mechanism for the brakes of the front wheels of anautomobile comprising rock shafts for operating said brakes, a brakeoperating lever having the free end portion thereof disposed in a pathof extended movement of the clutch lever of the automobile, and motiontransmitting means connecting said rock shafts with said brake lever sothat said rock shafts will be rocked simultaneously when said brakelever is operated.

3. An operating mechanism for the brakes of the front wheels of anautomobile comprising rock shafts for applying said brakes a brakeoperating lever having the free en portion thereof disposed in the pathof extended movement of the clutch lever of the automobile, and motiontransmittin means connecting said rock shafts with said brake lever sothat said rock shafts will be rocked simultaneously when said brakelever is operated, said motion transmitting means be-- tween said brakelever and said rock shafts including a longitudinally movable rod foreach of said rock shafts, said rod being adjustable as to length.

4. In brake mechanism for the front wheels of an automobile, a pair ofaxially aligned rock shafts respectively disposed adjacent to the innersides of said front wheel at the outer sides of the frame of theautomobile, means actuated by said rock shafts for operating the brakesfor said front wheels, rocker arms on said rock shafts, a pair ofaxially aligned transverse rock shafts journaled in the side members ofthe frame of the automobile intermediate the length of the automobile,rocker arms on the outer ends of said second named rock shafts rodsconnecting corresponding arms of said first'named rock shafts with thearms of said second named rock shafts, other rocker arms on the innerend portions of said second named rock shafts, said last named rockerarms being diametrically opposite the rocker arms of the outer ends ofsaid second named rock shafts, a pair of links connected to said lastnamed rocker arms to swing about aligned horizontal axes, a compensatingbar having the end portions thereof connected to the other ends of saidlinks to swing about parallel vertical axes, a

brake operating lever fulcrumed at its lower end, said brake operatinglever being swingable about a horizontal axis, and a rod connected atits forward end to the middle portion of said brake operating lever toswing about a horizontal axis and connected at its rearward end to themiddle portion of said compensating bar to swing about a vertical axis.

5. In combination, a motor vehicle, brake means for one pair of wheelsthereof including rock shafts journalled adjacent the wheels, a pair ofrock shafts on the vehicle frame, rods operatively connected with therock shafts, an equalizing link connecting the pair of rock shafts, alongitudinally shiftable rod connected with the link, and a normallystationary actuating member pivotally connected with the longitudinallyshiftable rod, and disposed in the path of 0 movement of the automobileclutch lever to be engaged thereby to actuate the brakes upon manualoperation of the clutch lever to disengage the clutch.

6. In combination, a motor vehicle, brake 25 and disposed in the path ofmovement of 30 the latter and carried forwardly therewith when theclutch pedal is depressed, and means operable to actuate the rock shaftsto actuate the brakes upon forward movement of the arm incident to thedepression of the 35 clutch pedal.

GUS WALKER.

